Coin controlled apparatus



May 3, 1960 A. w. HOLSTEIN EIAL 2,935,170

com CONTROLLED APPARATUS Filed July 14, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet l I H61. Q

y 1960 A. w. HOLSTEIN ET AL 2,935,170

COIN CONTROLLED APPARATUS Filed July'l4, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 1960 A.w. HOLSTEIN ET AL 2,935,170

I com CONTROLLED APPARATUS Filed July 14, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet a 19, 19a..spacers 21, 21a, 21b, 21c and plates 23, 23a.

nited States Patent O CDEN CGNTRGLLED APPARATUS Alvin W. Holstein,Lemay, and Elmer S. Marr, St. Louis, Mo assignors, by mesne assignments,to National Vendors, Inn, a corporation of Missouri Application July 14,1955, Serial No. 522,021

8 Claims. (Cl. 194-49) This invention relates to coin-controlledapparatus, and more particularly to apparatus of this class for use in avending machine to control the dispensing of items of difierent prices,and capable of accepting various coins and various combinations ofcoins.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision ofcoin-controlled apparatus adapted to register the total value of coinsdeposited in the apparatus, which is wholly mechanical, without anyelectrical components; the provision of apparatus of this class which iscapable of accepting coins of various denominations (nickels, dimes andquarters, for example), and which is adapted to register the total valueof any combination of coins deposited in the apparatus; and theprovision of apparatus of this class which is economical to manufactureand reliable in operation. Other objects and features will be in partapparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafterdescribed, the scope of the invention being indicated in the followingclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possibleembodiments of the invention is illustrated,

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of an apparatus constructed in accordancewith the invention, parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. l; and,

Figs. 3, 4 and are sections taken on lines 3-3, 4--4 and 5-5,respectively, of Fig. 2.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views of the drawlugs.

Referring to the drawings, a coin-controlled apparatus embodying theprinciples of this invention is shown to include a main plate 1 carryinga coin chute assembly 3. A plate 5 is located outward of the coin chuteassembly 3, being secured to the plate 1 by fasteners which includespacers 7. The assembly 3 provides three coin chutes 9, 11 and 13,side-by-side. Chute 9 is for nickels, chute 11 for dimes, chute 13 forquarters. The assembly 3 comprises outer plates 15 and 15a (see Fig. 1),spacers 17, 17a, 17b, 170 (see Fig. 3), a first set of intermediateplates 19, 19a, spacers 21, 21a, 21b, 210 (see Fig. 4), a

. second set of intermediate plates 23, 23a, and spacers 25, 25a, 25b,250 (see Fig. 5).

The nickel chute is defined by plates 15, 15a, spacers 17, 17a, 17b, 17cand plates The dime chute is defined by plates 19, 19a,

The quarter chute is defined by plates 23, 23a, spacers 25, 25a, 25b,25c and the main plate 1.

Plates 15 and 15a, 19 and 19a, 21 and 21a define an arcuate slot 27which, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3-5, ex-

.tends for about 180 from a point about half-way up the right-hand edgeof the assembly 3 to a point adjacent the lower end of the right-handedge of the assembly 3. The chutes 9, 11 and 13 have portions 9a, 11aand 13a, re-

spectively, following the arc of slot 27, and portions 9b,

111: and 13b, respectively, which diverge away from the I chute.

are of slot 27. The slot 27 passes out of register with the chutes 9, 11and 13 at points 90, 11c and 130, respectively. The chutes are formed sothat point 110 is below point 90, and point 130 is below 110.

It will be understood that the apparatus will generally be used in avending machine having a slot for nickels, dimes and quarters. Coinsdeposited in the slot will enter a coin selector and slug rejectordevice (not shown) which operates to deposit nickels in the nickelchute, dimes in the dime chute and quarters in the quarter The coinselector and slug rejector device also acts to reject coins of improperdenominations (pennies) and spurious coins. Coin selector and slugrejector devices suitable for the purpose are well known: see, forexample, US. Patent 2,292,628. p

A stud 29 is mounted in the plate 5 at the center of the are of slot 27and extends toward the plate 1. This stud serves as a pivot for a lever31 having a finger 33 at its left end as shown in Fig. 1 which extendsacross all three of the coin chutes 9, 11 and 13 through the slot 27.The right end of the lever is connected by a link 35 to a totalizergenerally designated 37. The totalizer 37 is shown as comprising aratchet 39 on a shaft 41. A lever 43 is rotary on the shaft 41. The link35 is connected to the lever 43. The lever 43 carries a pivoted drivingpawl 45 for the ratchet. A holding pawl for the ratchet is indicated at47. The ratchet 39 is biased to rotate clockwise as viewed in Fig. 1 bya spiral return spring 49 to a zero position determined by theengagement of a pin 51 on the ratchet 39 with a fixed stop 53. The lever31 normally occupies the position shown in Fig. 1 wherein finger 33 islocated some distance above point 90 where slot 27 passes out ofregister with the nickel chute. This position of lever 31 is determinedby its engagement with a fixed stop 54;

A nickel, dime or quarter deposited in the respective chute 9, 11 or 13falls in the chute to the point where it engages the finger 33. It isthen engaged by a coin-driving means generally designated 55, and drivendownward in its respective chute with sufiicient force to swing thelever 43 counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 1 against the bias of thetotalizer return spring 49. The coin-driving means comprises a spidermember having a hub 57 mounted on the stud 29, and three arms 59radiating from the hub at 120 intervals, with a drive finger 61 at theouter end of each arm adapted to travel through the arcuate slot 27. Apinion 63 is fixed on the hub 57. At 65 is shown a spring motor having agear 67 in mesh with the pinion 63. The bias of the spring motor on thepinion 63 and spider 55 is counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 1.

A gear 69 is fixed on the hub 57. This gear 69 meshes with a pinion71'ro'tary on a stud 73. The diameter of the pinion 71 is one-third thatof the gear 69. The pinion 71 has a radial arm 75. This arm 75 isengageable with a downwardly extending finger 77 at the right end of alatching lever 79 as viewed in Fig. 1. Lever 79 is pivoted at 81 andbiased toward latching position by a spring 83. A shaft 85 carries adisk 87 having a pin 89 engageable with the left end of the latchinglever. A lever 91 consisting of a length of stiff wire has one end fixedto the shaft 85 and has a finger 93 at its other and free end whichextends into an arcuate slot 95 in the coin chute assembly, across allthree coin chutes. The slot 95 extends downward from near the upper endof the coin chutes and at its lower end curves away from the chutes asindicated at 96. A spring 97 connected to the disk 87 biases the lever91 to a retracted position deter mined by engagement of the finger 93with the upper end of the slot 95 (see Fig. 1). Slot 95 intersects slot27.-

The arrangement 'is such that any coin (whether a nickel, dime orquarter) falling in its respective chute engages the finger 93 andswings the lever 91 downward against the bias of the spring 97. The coindrives the finger 93 downward until the coin engages the finger 33 onlever 31. Upon downward swing of the lever 91, pin 89 engages the leftend of the latching lever 79 and rocks lever 79 counterclockwise againstthe bias of spring 33.

. This results in the finger '77 at the right end of the latch- 7 inglever 79 being raised clear of the arm 75 on pinion 71.

lutiontand before pinion 71 has completed a full revolution). When thespider member (and gear 69) complete a third of a revolution .(andpinion 71 completes a full revolution), the arm 75 on pinion 71 strikesthe 'finger 77 and this arrests the rotation of the spider member (andgear 69), after the finger 61 which initially occupied position A hasrotated to the position indicated at B, and the finger at B has moved tothe position indicated at C, and the finger at C has moved to A.

Operation is as follows:

Assuming that a nickel is deposited in the nickel chute 9, it engagesthe finger 93, swings the lever 91 downward, and comes into engagementwith the finger 33 on the lever "31. Upon the downward swing of thelever 91, the latching-lever 79 is rocked to release the arm 75, asabove described, and this frees member 55 to be driven incounterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig; 1 by power lever 31counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 1, thereby moving the link 35 upwardand rocking the lever 43 counterclockwise. The driving pawl 45 thereuponacts to rotate the ratchet counterclockwise against the bias of thereturn spring 49. The amplitude X (see Fig. 3) of the swing of lever 31,which is determined by the spacing of finger33 from po'int 90 when thefinger 33 is in its 7 normal position, is such as to efiect stepping ofthe ratchet through a one-tooth interval. The holding pawl 47 maintainsthe ratchet in the position to which it has been stepped. Assuming thatanother nickel is deposited in the nickel chute, the ratchet will bestepped up an other one-to'oth interval in exactly the same manner, andso on for any additional nickels up to the range of the ratchet. 'Eachstep of the ratchet thus represents a fivecent increment.

Assuming that a dime is deposited in the dime chute 11, like a nickel,it engages the finger 93, swings the lever 91 downward, and comes intoengagement with the which is determined by the spacing of finger 33 frompoint 110 when the finger 33 is in its normalposition,

is twice X and hence suchaas to effect stepping of the ratchet through atwo-tooth interval (a total of ten cents). The holding pawl 47 maintainsthe ratchet in the position to which it has been stepped. Assuming thatanother dime is deposited in the dime chute, the ratchet will be steppedup another two-tooth interval in exactly the same manner (a total oftwenty cents). If a nickel is deposited following a dime, the ratchetwill be further stepped a one-tooth interval (a total of fifteen cents).

Assuming that a quarter is deposited in the quarter chute 13, like anickel or a dime it engages the finger 93, swings the lever 91 downward,and comes into engage ment with the finger 33 on the lever 31. Upon thedownward swing of the lever 91, the latching lever 79 is rocked torelease the arm 75, as above described, and

this frees member 55 to be driven in counterclockwise direction asviewed in Fig. 1 by power derived from the spring'motor 65, in the samemanner as in the case of a nickel or dime deposited in the nickel ordime chute. The member 55 rotates. through a third of arevolution asabove described. The drive finger 61, which initially Z (see Fig. 5) ofthe swing of lever 31, which is determined by the spacing of finger 33from point 130 when the finger 33 is in'its normal position, is fivetimes X 7 and hence such as to eflfect stepping of the ratchet through afive-tooth interval (a total of twenty-five cents). The holding pawl 47maintains the ratchet in the position to which it has been stepped.Assuming that another quarter is deposited in the quarter chute, theratchet will be stepped up another five-tooth interval in exactly thesame manner. If a nickel is deposited following a quarter, the ratchetwill be further stepped a one-tooth interval (a total of thirty cents).If a dime is deposited following a quarter, the ratchet will be furtherstepped a two-tooth interval (a total of fthirty-five cents).

The rotation of the ratchet 39 through different fractions of arevolution corresponding to diiferent amounts deposited may be utilizedin various ways to control the vending machine in which the coinapparatus is used. For example, the rotation of the ratchet may beutilized to release locking means in the vending machine. It will beunderstood that suitable means (not shown) will 7 be provided forreleasing the holding pawl 47 at the finger '33 on the lever 31. Uponthe downward swing of.

the lever 91, the latching lever 79 is rocked to release the arm 75, asabove described,and this frees member to be driven in counterclockwisedirection as viewed in Fig. 1 by power derived from the spring motor 65,in the same manner as in the case of a nickel deposited in the nickelchute. The member 55 rotates through a third of a revolution as abovedescribed. 'The drive finger 61,

which initially occupied the position A, comes into engagement with thedime and drives it downward in the dime chute. "33 to rock the totalizeractuating lever 31 counterclock- The dime thereupon acts against thefinger counterclockwise against the bias of the return spring 49. Theamplitude Y (see Fig. 4) of the swing of lever 31,

termination of a vending cyclefor resetting the ratchet to its zeroposition. tive 'of various suitable means for biasing the coindrivingspider 55 in coin-driving direction. This spring motor may be manuallyperiodically wound. It is also contemplated that it be maintained woundby having a connection thereto from the dispensing mechanism of thevending machine so that the spring is rewound on Part of a linkage foraccomplishing such winding of the spring is indicated in dotted lines at99 in Fig. 1.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects ofthe-invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the abovecom structions withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

We claim:

1. Coin apparatuscomprising a coin chute assembly The spring motor 65 isrepresentat providing first and second coin chutes for coins of a firsand a second denomination, said chutes being located side-by-side, meansfor driving a coin along a portion of its chute, said coin-driving meansbeing biased in coin-' driving direction, means for holding thecoin-driving means against movement under the bias, means actuated bythe weight of a coin falling in its chute for releasing said holdingmeans, said chute assembly having a slot traversing both of said chutes,a lever pivoted on an axis transverse to the planes of the chutes havinga finger extending laterally across the chutes from one side of thechute assembly through said slot, an indexing means operable by saidlever, said finger being engageable by a coin being driven by saiddriving means in either chute and being driven thereby in an arcuatepath for swinging the lever in one direction, said lever being biased inthe opposite direction to a retracted position, and being movable insaid one direction away from said retracted position by a cointravelling in either of the chutes, and said chutes being so formed inrelation to the arcuate path of said finger as to guide a coin of thefirst denomination in the first chute to disengage from the finger afterthis coin has moved the finger a first distance and to guide a coin ofthe second denomination travelling in the second chute to disengage fromthe finger after this coin has moved the finger a second distance withthe ratio of said distances corresponding to the ratio of the value ofthe coins.

2. Coin apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said coin-drivingmeans comprises a rotary member having angularly spaced coin-engagingmeans extending across the chutes through said slot, and wherein thereis provided spring means tending to rotate said rotary member incoin-driving direction.

3. Coin apparatus comprising a coin chute assembly providing a nickelchute, a dime chute and a quarter chute, said chutes being locatedside-by-side and closely adjacent one another, said chute assemblyhaving a slot traversing all the chutes, a lever pivoted on an axistransverse to the planes of the chutes having a finger extendinglaterally across all three of the chutes from one side of the chuteassembly through said slot, an indexing member operable through one stepfor a nickel, two steps for a dime and five steps for a quarter, saidfinger being engageable by a nickel, dime or quarter travelling in itsrespective chute and being driven thereby in an arcuate path forswinging the lever in one direction, said lever being biased in theopposite direction to a retracted position, and being movable in saidone direction away from said retracted position by a nickel, dime orquarter travelling in its respective chute, said nickel chute being soformed in relation to the arcuate path of said finger as to guide anickel to disengage from the finger after the nickel has moved the leverthrough an angle such as to drive the indexing member through one step,said dime chute being so formed in relation to the arcuate path of saidfinger as to guide a dime to disengage from the finger after the dimehas moved the lever through approximately twice said angle so as todrive the indexing member through two steps, and said quarter chutebeing so formed in relation to the arcuate path of said finger as toguide a quarter to disengage from the finger after the quarter has movedthe lever through approximately five times said angle so as to drive theindexing member through five steps.

4. Coin apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the nickel chute isformed so that the arcuate path of the finger passes out of registerwith the nickel chute at a point determining said angle, and the dimechute is differently formed so that the arcuate path of the fingerpasses out of register with the dime chute at a different pointdetermining twice said angle, and the quarter chute is still difierentlyformed so that the arcuate path of the finger passes out of registerwith the quarter chute at still a difierent point determining five timessaid angle.

6 t 5. Coin apparatus comprising a coin chute assembly providinga'nickel chute, a dime chute and a quarter chute, said chutes beinglocated side-by-side and closely adjacent one another, means for drivinga coin along a portion of its chute, said coin-driving means beingbiased in coin-driving direction, means for holding the coindrivingmeans against movement under the bias, means actuated by the weight of acoin falling in its chute for releasing said holding means, said chuteassembly having a slot traversing all the chutes, a lever pivoted on anaxis transverse to the planes of the chutes having a finger extendinglaterally across the chutes from one side of the chute assembly throughsaid slot, an indexing member operable by said lever through one stepfor a nickel, two steps for a dime and five steps for a quarter, saidfinger being engageable by a coin being driven by said coindriving meansin any one of the chutes and being driven thereby in an arcuate path forswinging the lever in one direction, said lever being biased in theopposite direction to a retracted position, and being movable in saidone direction away from said retracted position by a coin being drivenby said coin-driving means in any one of the chutes, said nickel chutebeing so formed in relation to the arcuate path of said finger as toguide a nickel to disengage from the finger after the nickel has movedthe lever through an angle such as to drive the indexing member throughone step, said dime chute being so formed in relation to the arcuatepath of said finger as to guide a dime to disengage from the fingerafter the dime has moved the lever through approximately twice saidangle so as to drive the indexing member through two steps, and saidquarter chute being so formed in relation to the arcuate path of saidfinger as to guide a quarter to disengage from the finger after thequarter has moved the lever through approximately five times said angleso as to drive the indexing member through five steps.

6. Coin apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said coin-drivingmeans comprises a rotary member having angularly spaced coin-engagingmeans extending across the chutes through said slot, and wherein thereis provided spring means tending to rotate said rotary member incoin-driving direction.

7. Coin apparatus comprising a coin chute assembly providing first andsecond coin chutes for coins of a first and second denomination, saidchutes being located sideby-side, means for driving a coin along aportion of its chute, said coin-driving means being biased incoin-driving direction, means for holding the coin-driving means againstmovement under the bias, means actuated by the weight of a coin fallingin its chute for releasing said holding means, said chute assemblyhaving a slot traversing both of said chutes, a movable member having aportion extending across the chutes from one side of the chute assemblythrough said slot, an indexing means operable by said movable member,said portion of said movable member being engageable by a coin beingdriven by said driving means in either chute and being driven thereby inone direction for moving said member in one direction, said member beingbiased in the opposite direction to a retracted position, and beingmovable in said one direction away from said retracted position by acoin travelling in either of the chutes, and said chutes being so formedin relation to the path of movement of said portion of said member as toguide a coin of the first denomination in the first chute to disengagefrom said portion after this coin has moved said portion a firstdistance and to guide a coin of the second denomination travelling inthe second chute to disengage from said portion after this coin hasmoved said portion a second distance with the ratio of said distancescorresponding to the ratio of the value of the coins.

8. Coin apparatus comprising coin chute means for coins of a first and asecond denomination, means for driving a coin along a portion of saidchute means, said coin-driving means beingbiasedin coin-driving-idirec-.tio'n, means for holding the coin-'driving means against movement underthe bias, means actnatedby the weight of a ,coin fallinginsaid chutemeans for releasing said holding means, a movable member .engageable bya coin being driven by said driving means and adaptedto'be driventhereby in one direction, said member being biased in the oppositedirection to a retracted position, an indexing means operable by saidmember, said chutem'eans being so formed in relation to the path ofmovement of said member as to guide a coin of thefirst denomination todisengage from said member after this coin hasmoved said member a firstdistance and to guide a coin of the second denomination to disengagefrom said member with the said distances qr sp n ing to the ratio of thevalue of the coins." v V References Cited in the file pf-this patent 7 VUNITED STATES PATENTS,

449,024 Allin Marga-1891 2,170,270 Thatcher Aug. '22, 1939. 2,276,449Andres Mar.,17, 1-942 2,329,926 Michaels Sept. 21, 194-3 2,625,250 Hale-2 Jan. 13,1953 2,639,016 York May 19,1953 2,769,023 Loew Oct. 30, 19 56FOREIGN, PATENTS 7 Great Britain "Jan. 1, 194;

